Pre-order available at Stones Throw and Bauhaus' Bandcamp for Nov. 23 release. Official reissue, produced entirely by the band with Leaving Records, and distributed by Stones Throw.

The Bela Session captures the first time Bauhaus recorded together, January 26th, 1979, just six weeks after forming as a band. This is the first release of that complete recording session, including three previously unreleased tracks. This also marks the first official reissue of the single “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” on vinyl for over thirty years. The audio has been newly mastered from the original analogue tape by Mandy Parnell at Black Saloon Studios.

Bauhaus are a four-piece from Northampton, England: Peter Murphy (vocals), Daniel Ash (guitar), Kevin Haskins (drums), and David J (bass). The band emerged from the post-punk alternative music scene of the early 80s with a string of innovative albums and a powerfully dramatic live presentation.

“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” is considered the original gothic rock record and a cornerstone of the specific genre.

Originally released as a 12-inch single in August 1979 by Small Wonder Records, “Bela Lugosi's Dead” failed to make the pop charts but remained a staple of the U.K. independent singles chart for many years. “Bela” has widely influenced contemporary goth culture as well as popular culture at large. Among many highlights, a live recording of “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” was the soundtrack to the opening scene of 1983 horror film The Hunger (David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve, and Susan Sarandon); it’s been covered by Nine Inch Nails, Massive Attack, Nouvelle Vague, Chvrches and others; cited as an influence on authors Chuck Palahniuk and Neil Gaiman; used on Saturday Night Live’s skit “Goth Talk”; and the band itself was parodied on Beavis & Butthead and South Park.

Three months after releasing “Bela,” the group signed with label 4AD who released their debut album In The Flat Field. They then moved to the larger parent company, Beggars Banquet and between 1981 and 1983 released a further three studio albums, as well as peaking at #15 with their cover of David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” in the UK singles chart. After disbanding in 1983, members of the band went on to form Love And Rockets and Tones On Tail while Peter Murphy enjoyed a successful solo career.

40th anniversary: Late 2018 will also mark the ruby anniversary of Bauhaus. Beggars Banquet/4AD will be reissuing records from the band’s catalog on limited edition color vinyl, details to be announced.

Leaving Records: a Los Angeles-based label founded in 2008 by Matthew “Matthewdavid” McQueen. Leaving Records has partnered with Stones Throw Records since 2013.